Princess Kate made a notable fashion statement at a Buckingham Palace garden party, wearing the same Philip Treacy hat she first donned at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018.
The Princess of Wales, 43, attended her first garden party in two years, having reduced her duties in 2024 whilst undergoing cancer treatment.
The floral yellow headpiece was instantly recognised by royal watchers as the accessory she wore to the Sussexes' nuptials seven years ago.
The timing of Kate's choice raised eyebrows among royal observers, as the garden party fell just one day after Harry and Meghan celebrated their seventh wedding anniversary.
Princess Kate sends olive branch to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle amid royal rift
Getty / Reuters
The Duchess of Sussex marked the occasion with a sentimental mood board.
The hat's reappearance came at a particularly tense moment in royal relations, with Prince Harry recently giving an emotional BBC interview in which he revealed that King Charles "won't speak to him" and relations are thought to be "at rock bottom".
The Princess paired the distinctive hat with a butter yellow Emilia Wickstead dress, which cinched at the waist to flatter her figure.
The frock was also a rewear, last seen during the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022. Kate completed her ensemble with diamond earrings by British jeweller Robinson Pelham, which were commissioned by her parents for her 2011 wedding to Prince William.
Kate wearing the same hat at Harry and Meghan's 2018 wedding (left) and the 2025 Garden Party (right).
PA / Reuters
The meaningful accessories have made only a handful of appearances over the years, offering a romantic nod just weeks after the couple celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary.
The rift between the Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex has been well-documented since at least 2019, when Harry and Meghan split their royal office from William and Kate.
Prince Harry acknowledged in an ITV documentary that year that he and William were "on different paths". The situation escalated following the couple's 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview and Harry's memoir "Spare", which detailed personal conflicts, including an alleged physical altercation between the brothers.
"I would love reconciliation with my family. There's no point in continuing to fight anymore," the Duke of Sussex said in his recent BBC interview.
Princess Kate pictured at the Sussexes' wedding in 2018
PA
Among the guests at Tuesday's garden party was Holocaust survivor Steven Frank, 89, with whom Kate shared a warm embrace.
The Princess photographed Frank with his granddaughters five years ago for a project marking the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II.
"I feel like we are old friends now. Lovely to see you again," Kate said during their reunion.
Frank was among only a handful of children to survive multiple concentration camps. The pair previously met at a Holocaust Memorial Day event in January.
Princess Kate paired her hat with her 2011 wedding earrings on Tuesday
Reuters
The garden party marked Kate's first appearance at one of these annual events since 2023, having missed last year due to her cancer treatment.
The Princess is well-known for rewearing outfits from her royal wardrobe, with both the hat and dress having made several public appearances.
Her fashion choices often carry subtle significance, with royal watchers noting how the yellow ensemble was both on-trend for the season whilst simultaneously providing a connection to past royal occasions.
